AIM Definition (AOL Instant Messenger)Computer Pages: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) is an advertisement-supported proprietary freeware instant messaging and presence computer program which uses the OSCAR instant messaging protocol and the TOC protocol. It was released by AOL in May of 1997. It is the most popular instant message program in the United States. About AIMAOL Instant Messenger is an instant messaging application that allows registered users to communicate in real time via text, voice, and video over the Internet. It is maintained by AOL LLC. The official website is www.aim.com.AIM HistorySince version 2.0, AIM has included person-to-person instant messaging, chatroom messaging, and the ability to share files peer-to-peer with one's buddies. Versions 4.3 and later of the client software store one's contact information on AOL's servers, so one can keep track of up to 600 buddies from any computer with Internet access. In addition, somewhere in the 4.x versions, the AIM client for Microsoft Windows added the ability to play games against one another using the WildTangent engine. The first version released with WildTangent did not warn the user that it was going to be installed. Newer versions, however do, due to the fact that many users were frustrated with AOL, as many SpyWare scanners pick-up WildTangent as SpyWare, though it seems to be relatively harmless, outside of slowing system performance. Stand-alone official AIM client software is available for free for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, Mac OS X, Linux, Windows CE, and Palm OS.AIM version 5.5 allowed Windows users to video conference with each other and with Apple Computer iChat users (which came out before version 5.5) when it was released in February 2004. The successor to the AIM 5.9 versions became known as AIM Triton, which began with a complete code rewrite and a brand new UI engine, known as Boxely. The first renaming of the client was seen with the Beta 1 release 0.1.12 on April 25, 2005, and supported only Windows XP. For the first time in AIM's development, these preview releases were made publicly available on the AIM home page for any user to test and provide feedback. On September 29, 2006, the newest release of the AIM Triton 1.5 Beta was renamed to AIM 6.0, with a Beta 1 release made available. This version again changed the UI (albeit slightly). The final stable version of AIM 6.0 was released on December 15; new features included connection to AIM Pages, updates that make profile, away message, and general user updates into RSS feeds, new customization, the ability to send messages to users who are offline , buddy list capacity being increased to 1000 buddies, and compatibility with address book programs and sites through a "Universal Address Book" powered by Plaxo. The upgrade also added missing features from the first release including the 'Get File' function, global font customization, and a smaller size cache usage. Along with the release of AIM 6.0, AOL opened AIM to developers which allowed anyone to create a plug-in, or custom AIM client for Windows, Macintosh or Linux. Version AIM 6.1, which was officially released on March 27, 2007, introduces over AIM 6.0 Buddy List docking, support for inserting images into Buddy Info, Color Picker for changing the highlight colors of the UI, improvements to how Linked Screen Names are displayed, the ability to sign on as invisible, several bug fixes, and improved Windows Vista support. The software has a large share of the instant messaging market (with 52% of the total reported as of 2006), placing it ahead of the combined total userbase of the two closest rivals. AIM ExpressThe online version of AIM, AIM Express, is implemented in DHTML and runs in a web browser; it is intended for use by people who are unable or unwilling to install an executable client on their machines but still wish to use AIM. AIM Express supports many of the standard features included in the stand-alone client, but does not provide advanced features like file transfer, audio chat, or video conferencing.Apple iChatApple's iChat software was released in June 2003 for Mac OS X and was first AIM-compatible client to allow for audio and video conferencing over the AIM protocol. While introducing it, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced that iChat was the first AIM client not made by AOL to be officially recognized by AOL.AIM PhonelineAIM Phoneline is a Voice over IP PC-PC, PC-Phone, and Phone-to-PC service [5] provided by AOL via its AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) application.AIM ProtocolThe standard protocol that AIM clients use to communicate is called OSCAR. Most AOL-produced versions of AIM and popular third party AIM clients use this protocol. However, AOL also created a simpler protocol called TOC that lacks many of OSCAR's features but is sometimes used for clients that only require basic chat functionality. The TOC/TOC2 protocol specifications were made available by AOL, while OSCAR is a closed protocol that third parties have had to reverse-engineer.AIM WeaknessesAIM is known for security weaknesses that have enabled exploits to be created that use third-party software to perform malicious acts on users' computers. Although most are relatively harmless, such as being kicked off the AIM service, others perform potentially dangerous actions such as harvesting IP addresses and sending viruses over a direct connection. Some of these exploits rely on social engineering to spread by automatically sending instant messages that contain a URL accompanied by text suggesting the receiving user click on it, an action which leads to infection. Since August 2005, AOL has also launched the webmail service AIM Mail; it is free and can be accessed by all AIM users.AIM ConfigurationAIM is different from other clients such as Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo Messenger in that it does not require approval from one buddy to be added to another's buddy list. As a result, it is possible for users to keep other unsuspecting users on their buddy list to read their profiles or see if they are online (if the other user had blocked them before). However, one can block another user from communicating and also enhance privacy by selecting a menu option allowing communication only with those on one's buddy list.AIM TerminologyAIM and AOL use several terms for elements of their instant messaging, which are different from other messengers. These include:
AIM VersionsThe official versions of the AIM software are as follows:
AIM BotsAOL and various other companies supply robots on AIM which can receive messages and send a response based on the bot's purpose. For example, bots can help with studying, like StudyBuddy. Some are made to relate to children and teenagers, like Spleak or AOLSafetyBot, an AOL-run bot that provides information about staying safe online. Some like FashionCF give advice, and some are general purpose, like Smarterchild or the popular AIM Bot FriendBot. Other capabilities include games, calculators, sports results, web search, and much more. Prior to the inclusions of such bots, the bots DoorManBot and AIMOffline provided features provided today by AOL for those who needed it. Many AIM users utilize bots such as Smarterchild to take verbal abuse.AIM URI schemeAOL Instant Messenger's installation process automatically installs an extra URI scheme ("protocol") handler into some web browsers, so that URIs beginning "aim:" can open a new AIM window with specified parameters. This is similar in function to the mailto: URI scheme, which creates a new e-mail message using the system's default mail program.No matter if you need to know "what is AIM", the definition of a "AIM", or the meaning of a "AIM", you can find it here at Network Liquidators. There's quite a bit of information out there to learn, and it all starts by you having the initiative to seek out that information. We hope this definition of AIM was what you were looking for and appreciate your visit and welcome you back anytime. Check Our our Network Equipment InventoryComputer Pages: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
